Fri - Jan 20/12

A number of days will be summarized on this one page.

Charlotte woke with a sensation of pressure on her chest. She was not in pain but was concerned. We drove to the local Deseret Family Medical Center on King's Ranch Road in Gold Canyon, AZ about a mile from the RV Park. After the fee was paid she was seen by one of the staff doctors who advised a visit to the hospital.

We proceeded to Banner Baywood Emergency in Mesa, AZ. This was a 15 minute drive west along US-60 to the Power Road Exit and then to Baywood Avenue. She went to the head of the line and was seen immediately as soon as she mentioned a heart problem.

The main emergency rooms in major hospitals in the USA (at least the one's we have seen) are self-contained rooms with every normal medical monitoring device. Each has its own computer monitor and keyboard as well. I gave the nurse a list of Charlotte's meds and Dr. Hyde's medical history (several pages). She was quite impressed with the info and entered all pertinent info in the computer.

Of course, a Case Worker arrived. "Case Worker" really means "Bill Collector". I submitted our Out-of Country Medical and the required $500.00 deposit. Luckily, I took money out of our RV safe for this purpose when we departed this morning.

Charlotte was transferred to the Banner Heart Hospital (part of the same complex) after a few hours in emergency. The time was probably required to clear medical coverage.

Banner Heart is in the Top 100 of over 4500 accredited hospitals in the USA. She was in good hands (for the next 5 days).

Each patient has there own room. There is a neat info board that shows the patient pertinent details including the name of the Doctor(s), RN (Nurse), the RNA (Nurse's Aide), scheduled events with all updated each shift. The room has a phone for local and 800/collect calls. The call button also includes controls for the TV and room lights. One of the room chairs is a recliner. I was able to stay overnight only leaving the room when procedures were done or to go to the cafeteria which is about 2 blocks away  (in the hospital) past the Emergency room area. This is a huge complex.

There is a computer station in the hall between each room and a rolling monitor station moves with the nurse. Each procedure is scanned (patient name band) including meds. It would not allow one med to be given. It was a slow release and the prescribed was not. This is a great safety monitor (and ass-covering) tool. There are also overhead Monitor Screen Banks in the hallway about four rooms apart that show patient vitals.

Patients pick daily from a printed (full colour) menu which is better than the average restaurant. The food, like the care, was excellent. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful.

When Charlotte received nitro and oxygen the chest pressure went away. They felt that the back wall of the heart may not be getting enough oxygen. I returned to the RV to print out Charlotte's last EKG (Nov. 2011) that I had on the computer. They compared and determined that she did not have a heart attack (good news) as there were no EKG changes.

When at the RV I also gave neighbours event tickets. We missed the Comedian (Monday) and the Dance (Tuesday) that were part of the cancer fund-raising week.

The tests ended with an Angiogram. The doctor that performed the operation, like the hospital, is rated as one of the best (voted Best Doctor award 2003-2012). They were able to determine that although there was some minor artery blockage there was nothing that required an intervention. The past triple bypass was still clear. They felt that medication would be all that is required to control the problem.

Charlotte was released after supper on Tuesday (Jan 24). We could only get 3 of the 4 prescription as one was a controlled medication that required a doctor's signature. We would call the doctor to get it faxed to the pharmacy.

We also missed the fund-raising auction on Wednesday as Charlotte rested in the RV. I heard that Charlotte's Mohair Teddy Bear (Pinky) that she donated went for around $100 in the auction.

Now we will have to wait for the follow-up appointment in February. We then have to notify our Medical Insurance company of the results. Hopefully they will continue coverage and we will not be required to return home (before May).